Le 14.1%/21 NR E 2» 3 00 $5 32;./%»_ Vii-‘-i:3.3’Ii.¢.‘I.g‘52(1r?t Unive.-raity 5 C E«~‘~' ? 5 ri*r;"‘7=”zr”“> . L‘ [-3.91 ‘ 3" ‘S 3:‘ |\~5!:-3" ‘ , “V ‘ E ’ ‘ 9. ".5-’{ Issue Brief E. i Ni’ _ 0-,,’ : ' 1 "Jr! "" " “ ‘"9: F CONGRESSIONAL RESEARCH SERVICE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS WOMEN IN SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY CAREERS ISSUE BRIEF NUMBER IB80065 AUTHOR: Cooper, Edith F. Science Policy Research Division THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS CONGRESSIONAL RESEARCH SERVICE MAJOR ISSUES SYSTEM DATE ORIGINATED gggggggg DATE UPDATED g§4g_1_g§_g FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CALL 287-5700 0821 CRS- 1 IB80065 UPDATE-O8/21/80 l§§QE QEEIEIIEQE Women scientists, especially with doctorate degrees, constitute a very small proportion of all scientists in the science and technology professions. Women constitute a large base of relatively untapped talent for science and technology fields. However, women who are interested in and decide to pursue such careers usually are confronted with educational, psychological, and social deterrents. Women who overcome these obstacles and are employed in academia, industry, and the Federal Government are few in number compared with their male counterparts. These women scientists generally receive lower salaries, are slower to advance, and have less influential positions. some Hembers of Congress have been increasingly concerned with what they see as a waste of ability and social inequity in the underrepresentation of women in science and technology careers. Interest in this situation has stimulated the introduction of legislation and congressional hearings. Skeptics doubt that further Federal intervention is appropriate in one professional area. EAQEEEQQ!Q-A§2-£QLl§Z_é§éLl§l§ Women comprise 51.3% of the 0.5. population but only 9.7% of the total 5 Ientists and engineers in the Nation (2,741,000). In addition, since 1950, o.er one million women have earned bachelor's degrees in some field of science or engineering, but out of 2,u73,ooo employed scientists and engineers in the Nation, only 231,000 or 9.u% are women. It has been ,found that many societal, educational, and psychological pressures deter some women who wish to pursue careers in science and technology. As a result of these deterrants, there are few female scientifixzand engineering role models to encourage more interested female students. The small number of women in science and technology careers might be attributed to the finding that many young women are not being equally prepared by schools to seek such professions, as reported by the Educational Testing Service in Princeton, New Jersey (See REFERENCES section). Furthermore, a number of women scientists believe that sex discrimination also contributes to the small number of women represented in this area of expertise. However, Jonathan Cole, a sociologist, finds in his book, Fair §<_=i9.z1.2s.=_- Regen in_.t1.22-§si§2:i:is-§2m21.1uit1. (See REFERENCES section). that although in the past, women in science and technology were confronted with discrimination, the problem has been reduced and currently measurable amounts are small. Therefore, he feels ithat the "claims of widespread sexual discrimination in hiring are unfounded." For those women who succeed in evading or overcoming the various problems involved in becoming scientists, relevant employment in the scientific profession may be difficult to locate. Data have shown that women scientists ew loyed in academia have less prestigious positions, take longer to advance, and receive lower salaries than men. Nevertheless, Jonathan Cole has found that curently there is a tendency to favor women over men in hiring new assistant professors -- perhaps, he states, resulting from pressures placed on universities by HEw°s Office of Civil Rights affirmative-action policy or internal pressure by women's causes of professional associations. In the Federal Government, statistics indicate that 1 out of every 13 scientists and CBS- 2 IB80065 UPDATE—O8/21/80 engineers is a woman. In the Federal Government as well as nationwide, there are few women Ph.D.s in all scientific fields. A recent study by the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) indicates that there has been ; important, although modest, increase in the ratio of women in grades GS-15 through GS-18 from 2.4 to 2.9%. The percentage of women Ph.D. scientists at the GS-15 through GS-18 levels, however, dropped from 12 to 10% of the total number of Ph.D. scientists at these levels from 197a to 1978. In recent years, it was found that women scientists: were promoted into managerial positions more rapidly than were men. However, the NAS study determined that male scientists are still more likely to become managers in the Federal Government than women. This discrepancy, the NAS study states, shows the magnitude of the inequalities that remain. In industry, engineering and physics account for at least fl0% of the doctoral-level jobs. with the small percentage of doctoral women scientists and engineers employed in industry, men are more likely to hold managerial positions. In addition, the average salaries in industry for men and women scientists and engineers varied by almost 20% in favor of the male scientists. H§ti9nal-§2ien-e_§2unée2:22.22992228 The National Science Foundation (NSF) began a Women in Science Program in 1976 to help attract and retrain women in scientific careers. Three projects were organized to implement this program -- science Career Workshops; Science Career Facilitation Projects; and the Visiting women Scientists Program- The Science Career Workshops project provides "factual information and practical advice regarding careers in science to womeni undergraduate students or t women who have at least a bachelor's degree in science and need guidanc- regarding further education or how to obtain scientific jobs that will make full use of their potential." From FY76 to FY79, a total of 99 grants were given for workshops that were held in 36 States, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico- In FY79, $335,250 was awarded for the program. The Science Career Facilitation Project's objective is to "facilitate the entry or re-entry of women with bachelor's or master‘s degrees in science into careers in science or into graduate education in science." Grants are awarded to institutions of higher education to achieve this goal. A total of 33 grants were given from FY76-FY79 for these projects. A recent evaluation of this program by the Denver Research Institute (DRI) found that "about 65 percent of past participants are now employed and 10 percent are in graduate school. About one—third of all participants are both working and attending school," and a majority of women employed are working in private industry and earning annual salaries between $10,000 and $20,000. The visiting women Scientists Program was initiated in 1977 through a contract with the Center for Educational Research and Evaluation of the Research Triangle Institute (RTI) in North Carolina. Through a pilot program during the academic year C 1977-1978, 40 women scientists along with RTI field representatives, visited 110 high schools across the Nation on a circuit of 3 or u schools in a particular geographic region within a 4- or 5-day period. Data provided by students, school contact persons, women scientists, and field representatives, showed that students reacted very favorable toward the visits, and the women scientists and school contact persons overwhelmingly favored future participation in the program. A follow-up program we implemented during the 1978-1979 school year, with 140 secondary school- visited, including some junior high schools. EQQZ§9I§£Q!§B§-EEQQ£§E§ CRS- 3 IB80065 UPDATE-08/21/80 The Hath/Science Network, organized in 1974 to encourage girls and women t participate in mathematics and science, is composed of educators, scientists, engineers, administrators, and community people who have been working cooperatively for this purpose. The network holds annual conferences to introduce 7th and 8th grade young women to careers in the fields of science and mathematics. In 1979, conferences were held simultaneously on 8 California campuses with approximately 3,000 students, 1,000 parents and educators, and Q00 women professionals in mathematics, science, and engineering attending. On Mar. 15, 1980, 22 conferences were held on college campuses in California as well as in other states. According to a spokesperson at the Hath/Science Network, many similar groups are being organized as a result of the success of theeNetwork. The Women and Mathematics project, a secondary lecture program created in 1975 to stimulate interest of students in mathematics regardless of career choices, is also designed to attract more women to the sciences and similar technical careers. A Minority women scientists appear to be included in efforts to improve scientific opportunities for minorities as a whole, as well as for women. Black women, who, according to the 1970 census data, number about 6% of the U.S. population, represent only approximately 1/10 of 1% of U.S. doctoral scientists and engineers; American Indian women represent about 0.Q% of the U 7. population, but only ou.% of Ph.D. scientists and engineers; women of Spanish origin represent 2.2%.of the population, but less than 1/10A of a percent of employed scientists. White males compose fl1.5% of the Nation's population, but represent 90% of employed doctoral scientists and engineers in this country. Yolanda Scott George (See REFERENCES section) believes that programs intended to increase the number of minorities in science and technology are geared toward the needs of males, and those designed to‘ increase the representation of women in science address the needs of majority women. Therefore, she says, present programs to help minorities and women address, to only a slight degree, if at all, the needs of minority women in science. Opinions contrary to this belief have not been located. §andi9a22ed_E9ien_in-§si2n2e No one knows precisely the number of handicapped women scientists in the U.S. population. However, about 15 to 20% of the 1,000 names of handicapped scientists throughout the country, on record at the Office of Opportunities in Science of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, are women. Some advocates argue that the underrepresentation of employed handicapped scientists results from a lack of effort by the Government, industry, and educational groups to recruit this minority. Q2n92e§§i9nal-§_n§ern Legislation has been introduced in the 96th Congress to create an extensive program to expand the contributions and achievements of women in scientific and technical careers. Under this legislation, the National wscience Foundation would make grants to encourage the education, employment, CRS- 4 IB80065 UPDATE—08/21/80 and training of women in science and technology. It is argued that the causes of social equity and national advancement are both served by promoti'° the complete use of the Nation's scientifically talented human resources. _, is reasoned that the statistically demonstrated imbalance in scientific employment portrays a waste of female ability injurious to both American goals. one sociologist who has written on this subject recognizes the general laws forbidding discrimination and questions whether, if there are further political and social pressures to increase the proportions of women hired in scientific and technical jobs, this will produce reverse discrimination against men? For example, men are relatively few among registered nurses and school teachers. 9 Skeptics note the “underrepresentation" of women in other professional fields. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are 61,000 women lawyers compared with 417,000 male lawyers in the Nation; women employed as foresters and conservationists number 5,000 compared with 52,000 men; 519,000 women are in agricultural production, ccmpared with 2,240,000 men; and 2,586,000 women are business managers and administrators compared to 7,931,000 men. Current congressional concern regarding these situations is not evident. some observers question whether Federal intervention is less or more appropriate in science than in other fields. A hearing was held on Aug. 1, 1979, by the Senate Committee on Labor and Human Resources, Subcommittee on Health and Scientific Research. It was the first of a series of upcoming hearings focusing on specific problems relatr mto health and needs of women in various segments of the U.S. population. The Aug. 1, 1979, hearing discussed the impact of the health care system for women. Included in the agenda was the concern of providing equal opportunities for women in science. ‘ on Mar. 3, 1980, the subcommittee held another day of hearings concerning women in science. Testimony was given by Betty Vetter, executive director of the Scientific manpower Commission; Dr. George Pimentel, the deputy director of the NSF; and Dr. James Rutherford, the assistant director of NSF science education. A panel of witnesses described the barriers confronting women in academia, discrimination that minority and handicapped women may face, and various programs that subsequently may be influential in improving the status of women scientists. on Apr. 24, 1980, the subcommittee unanimously voted to send 5. 568 to the full committee {Senate Labor and Human Resources) for consideration with an amendment incorporating S. 2462, which authorized appropriations for the National science Foundation for FY81 and FY82. On May 8, 1980, the committee incorporated the provisions of S. 2462. On Hay 15, 1980, the bill was favorably reported to the Senate with written report (S.Rept. 96-713) and an amendment to the title. The bill is now called, the National Science Foundation and women in Science Authorization Act for Fiscal Years 1981 and 1982. On June 23, 1980, the Senate passed 5. 568, with amendments. LEGISLATION H.R. 5305 (Ottinger, et al.)/S. 568 (Kennedy) Authorizes the National Science Foundation to make grants to encourage the. education, employment, and training of women in science and technology. CRS- 5 IB80065 UPDATE—08/21/80 Establishes a Clearinghouse on Women in Science to collect information to e tourage women to enter these fields. Establishes the Distinguished Achievement in the Advancement of Women in Science Award. Establishes the President's Committee for Equal Opportunity in Science Awards. Establishes the Mathematics and Science Incentives Awards for schools encouraging the training of women in these areas. Requires the collection and dissemination of data concerning employment of women in these fields and qualified women in science and technology. H.R. 5305, introduced Sept. 17, 1979; referred to House Committees on Education and Labor, an Science and Technology. S. 568, introduced Mar. 7, 1979; referred to Senate Committee on Labor and Human Resources. S. 568 was favorably reported (S.Rept. 96-713), with an amendment to the Title, calling it the National Science Foundation and Women in Science Authorization Act for FY81-82 on May 15, 1980. Senate passed bill, with amendments, June 23. ' §EABlE§§ 0.5. Congress. Senate. Committee on Labor and Human Resources. Subcommittee on Health and Scientific Research. National Science Foundation Authorization Act for Fiscal Years 1979 and 1980 and the Women in Science and Technology Equal Opportunity Act. Hearing, 95th Congress, 2d session. Apr. 10, 1978. Washington, U.S. Govt. Print. Off., 1978. 262 p. ---—- Women in Science and Technology Equal Opportunity Act, 1979. Hearing, 96th Congress, 1st session. Aug. 1, 1979. Washington, 0.5. Govt. Print. Off., 1979. 105 p. ----- women in Science and Technology Equal Opportunity Act. Hearing, 96th Congress, 2d session. Mar. 3, 1980. (In press) §§2Q§1§-éE2_§Q!§B§§§lQ§£L-2Q§EflEEI§ Hatch, Orrin G. National Science Foundation Authorization and Women in Science Act. Remarks in the Senate. Congressional record [daily ed.] v. 126, June 20, 1980: S7697-S7698. Kennedy, Edward H. S. 568, Women in Science and Technolgoy Equal Opportunity Act. Remarks in the Senate. Congressional record [daily ed.] Mar. 7, 1979: S2197-S2205. National Science Foundation Authorization and Homen in Science Act [discussion and vote in the Senate] Congressional record [daily ed.] June 23, 1980: S7935-S79u6. U.S. Congress. Senate. Committee on Labor and Human Resources. National Science Foundation and women in science authorization act for fiscal years 1981 and 1982. Washington, U.S. Govt. Print. Off., 1980. 66 p. (96th Congress, 2d session. Senate Report no. 96-713) Women in science. In Extensions of Remarks of Richard L. Ottinger. Congressional record [daily ed.] Sept. 21, 1979: E4673. CRS- 6 IB80065 UPDATE-O8/21/80 §§R0H0LQ§X-QE_§VE!1§ 06/23/80 05/15/80 05/08/80 on/2u/30 03/03/30 09/17/79 03/01/79 03/07/79 OH/10/78 The Senate passed 5. 568, with amendments. S. 568 was favorably reported to the Senate with written report No. 96-713 and with an amendment to the title, calling it the National Science Foundation and Women in Science Authorization Act for Fiscal Years 1981 and 1982. The Senate Committee on Labor and Human Resources incorporated the provisions of S. 2u62, which authorized appropriations for the National Science Foundation for fiscal years 1981 and 1982, as Title I of S. 568. It was unanimously voted by the Senate Subcommittee on Health and Scientific Research to send 5. 568 to the full Committee on Labor and Human Resources for consideration. Hearing held by the Senate Committee on Labor and Human Resources, Subcommittee on Health and Scientific Research concerning women in science and technology. H.R. 5305 introduced in the House by Representative Richard Ottinger. Onerday hearing held by the Senate Committee on Labor and Human Resources, Subcommittee on Health and Scientific Research in which the situation of women in science and technology was one of the topics discussed. S. 568 introduced in the Senate by Senator Edward M. Kennedy. One day of hearings held by the Senate Committee on Labor and Human Resources, Subcommittee on Health and Scientific Research on the National Science Foundation Authorization Act for FY79 and FY80, and the women in Science and Technology Equal Opportunity Act. A2§lLlQEAL-B§E§B§!§E-§QQB§§§ American Association for the Advancement.of Science. bind: of a Conference of Minority Women Scientists. The double the price of being a minority woman in science. Report Airlie House, Warrenton, Virginia, December 1975 [by] Shirley H. Halcolm, Paula Q. Hall, and Janet W. Brown. 70 p. ----- Office of Opportunities in Science. AAAS publication 76-R-3. Science for handicapped CRS- 7 IB80065 UPDATE‘08/21/80 students in higher education: barriers, solutions and recommendations [by] Martha Redden, Cheryl Davis, and Janet H. Brown. Washington, AAAS publication 78—R-2. 74 p. Byrn, Katherine. Sexism in science: women fight back. Science digest, v. 78, December 1975: 26-33. Cole, Jonathan R. Fair science: Women in the scientific community. New York, The Free press, 1979. 336 p. Q130.C6Q, Connolly, Terry and Esther L. Burks. women in science and engineering: characteristics and experiences of established professionals. Engineering education, v. 68, December 1977: 234-zuo. Fields, Cheryl. Women in Science: breaking the barriers. The chronicle of higher education, v. 15, Oct. 31, 1977: 7, 8. Hofman, Helenmarie and Kenneth S. Ricker. psourcebook: science education and the physically handicapped. Washington, National Science Teachers Association, 1979. 284 p. National Academy of Sciences. Climbing the academic ladder: doctoral women scientists in academe. A report to the Office of Science and Technology Policy from the Committee on the Education and Employment of Women in Science and Engineering. Washington, Commission on Human Resources, National Research Council, 1979. 155 p. —————-Women scientists in industry and government: how much progress in the 19703? An interim report to the Office of Science and Tecnology Policy from the Committee on Education and Employment of Women in Science and Engineering. Washington, Commission on Human Resources. National Research Council, 1980. 56 p. Ravls, Bebecca and Jeffrey Fox. Women in academic chemistry finds rise to full status difficult. Chemical and engineering news, Roark, Anne C. Women scientists treated equitably, sociologist finds. The chronicle of higher education, v. 19, Nov. 5, 1979: 1, 4. Vetter, Betty. Sex discrimination in the halls of science. Chemical and engineering news, v. 58, Mar. 17, 1980: 37-38. ----- women in the natural sciences. Signs, v. 1, Spring 1976: 713-270. Zuckerman, Harriet and Jonathan R. Cole. Women in American science, Hinerva, v. 13, Spring 1975: 82-102. . .n1na:L\ :50 xc:..1:.nnnL- 23:31:91 'x2rII'n'J-Z‘ - at“ T1. is Na“ “ L5. ‘(.35 -‘‘\:.‘"’zt.4:I 3.? - , 3 I; § 7 -t__‘ £3’*..>,‘,.£\'“"E“-"‘ "35."-.‘ -2 ‘ 4:5 ' ’.‘.§‘°:3‘«‘»SE {J-‘”** ‘ \: Q4 _a'. ' ::~§,{fi ..\:o‘~rq!W;,' U?‘uu‘c' :3 a..;§~.-2: v: . _ n ‘V mm‘ ‘A “I 5:. A 5..~..~¥ '3.-2.. ‘u ;“—.l9r _;